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Thoroughly updated and re-conceived, Astronomy: The Evolving Universe, Ninth Edition, equips the introductory astronomy student with the essential tools for understanding the night sky. Michael Zeilik has revised his successful textbook based on recent research in astronomy education. Significantly shorter than the previous edition, the ninth edition is organized into four concept clusters: Cosmic Distances, Heavenly Motions, Celestial Light and Celestial Navigators. Material has been streamlined throughout to make the descriptions, concepts, and explanations clearer. Each chapter ends with a concise summary of the concepts in each cluster. Each chapter contains at least one Celestial Navigator, a map that provides a visual guide of major concepts in the chapter and explicitly shows their connections. Throughout, illustrations have been updated to be clearer and more relevant.
Part I. Changing Conceptions of the Cosmos
1. From chaos to cosmos
2. The birth of cosmological models
3. The new cosmic order
4. The clockwork universe
5. The birth of astrophysics
6. Telescopes and our insight to the cosmos
7. Einstein's vision
Part II. The Planets: Past and Present
8. The earth: an evolving planet
9. Moon and Mercury, Mars and Venus: terrestrial planets
10. The Jovian planets: primitive worlds
11. The origin and evolution of the solar system
Part III. The Universe of Stars
12. Our sun: local star
13. The stars as suns
14. Starbirth and interstellar matter
15. Star lives
16. Star death
Part IV. Galaxies and Cosmic Evolution
17. The evolution of the galaxy
18. The universe of galaxies
19. Cosmic violence
20. Cosmic history
Appendix A. Units
Appendix B. Planetary data
Appendix C. Physical constants and astronomical data
Appendix D. Nearby stars in the Hipparcus catalogue
Appendix E. Periodic table of the elements
Expanded glossary
Index
"[...] it must rank among the most successful and long-lasting of astronomical textbooks [...] likely to be of great bebefit to anyone studying the subject at school, and those contemplating teaching an evening class could do a lot worse than to base their course on this text. it is a first class recommendation not only for the student but also for the interested layman."
- Robert Argyle, The Observatory
"Zeilik is an academic who has used his research into astronomy education to streamline and focus his textbook, and his experience is readily apparent. It is well structured, with diagrams on most pages and a number of attractive images. [...] Further activities are contained in a companion book and there are other resources available on a linked web site. This book is easy to read and is a good introduction to popular astronomy."
- Astronomy Now
